Chrysanthemum plant named Tan

ABSTRACT

A chrysanthemum plant known by the cultivar name Tan and particularly characterized as to uniqueness by the combined characteristics of flat capitulum form; daisy capitulum type; greyed orange ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 5 to 6.25 cm. at maturity; uniform eight week flowering response; medium plant height; semi-spreading branching pattern; and tolerance of both low winter 13° C. to 21° C. and high summer 18° C. to 32° C. temperatures for bud initiation and flower development.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., named Tan.

Tan is a product of a planned breeding program which had the objectiveof creating new chrysanthemum cultivars for pinched spray pot mumprograms having daisy capitulum type, orange floret color, eight weekflowering response and the ability to produce commercially acceptablequality in year round programs. Such traits in combination were notpresent or required improvements in previously available commercialcultivars.

Tan was originated from a cross made in a controlled breeding program inSalinas, Calif. in 1979. The female parent was Sunny Mandalay, disclosedby U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,231 and originated by the present inventor as amutation from Yellow Mandalay. The male parent of Tan was an unnamedseedling identified as 79029004, originated from a cross betweenMandarin, unpatented, commercially available and an unnamed seedlingidentified as 71078021.

Tan was discovered and selected as one flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated cross by William E. Duffett in June 1980 in acontrolled environment in Salinas, Calif.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Tan was accomplished whenvegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in October1980 in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif. by a technicianworking under formulations established and supervised by William E.Duffett. Horticultural examination of selected units initiated October1981 has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as hereindisclosed for Tan are firmly fixed and are retained through successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

Tan has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions.The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment suchas temperature, light intensity and day length. The observations,measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in Salinas, Calif.and Leamington, Ontario, Canada under greenhouse conditions whichapproximate those generally used in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Tan which in combination distinguish thischrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

(1) Flat capitulum form.

(2) Daisy capitulum type.

(3) Greyed orange ray floret color.

(4) Diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 5 to 6.25 cm. atmaturity.

(5) Uniform eight week photoperiodic flowering response to short days.

(6) Medium plant height (requiring 2 long day weeks prior to pinch andshort days, and 1 to 2 applications of 2500 ppm B-9 SP, the first at 14,the second at 21 days after the beginning of short days to attain aflowered plant height of 25 to 35 cm. in 6" pots).

(7) Semi-spreading branching pattern.

(8) Tolerance of low winter 13° C. to 21° C. temperatures.

(9) Tolerance of high summer 18° C. to 32° C. temperatures.

The accompanying photographic drawings depict typical leaf andinflorescence characteristics of Tan. Sheet 1 is a color photograph of aplant of Tan grown as a pinched spray pot mum, with colors being asaccurate as possible with renditions of this type. Sheet 2 is a blackand white photograph of three views of the inflorescence of Tan. Sheet 3shows the leaves of Tan in three stages of growth (mature, intermediate,immature).

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the mostsimilar in comparison to Tan is Cirbronze, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat.No. 4,492. Reference is made to attached Chart A which compares certaincharacteristics of Tan to those same characteristics of Cirbronze.

Similar traits are the capitulum form, type and diameter, plant heightand branching pattern. Tan has a faster response time, a lighter, greyedorange ray floret color, and its tolerance of lower temperatures resultsin more uniform flowering.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determinedbetween 4:00 P.M. and 4:30 P.M. on Oct. 26, 1983 under 150 foot-candlelight intensity at Salinas, Calif.

Classification:

Botanical.--Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat. cv Tan.

Commercial.--Daisy spray pot mum.

I. Inflorescence:

A. Capitulum.--Form: Flat. Type: Daisy. Diameter Across Face: 5 to 6.25cm.

B. Corolla of ray florets.--Color (General tonality from a distance ofthree meters): Greyed Orange. Color (abaxial): 169 B-C oxidizing tobetween 22A and 23 A. Color (adaxial): 163 B-C suffused with 163A.Shape: Oblong, rounded tip.

C. Corolla of disc florets.--Color (mature): 1A. Color (immature): 154A.

D. Reproductive organs.--Androecium: Present disc florets only; moderatepollen. Gynoecium: Present both ray and disc florets.

II. Plant:

A. General appearance.--Height: Medium. Branching Pattern: Spreading.

B. Foliage.--Color (abaxial): 147A. Color (adaxial): 137C. Shape:Shallow lobed. Smooth with minimum serration.

                  CHART A                                                         ______________________________________                                        COMPARISON OF TAN AND CIRBRONZE                                               ______________________________________                                                   RAY FLORET    CAPITULUM                                            CULTIVAR   COLOR         FORM AND TYPE                                        ______________________________________                                        TAN        GREYED        FLAT                                                            ORANGE        DAISY                                                CIRBRONZE  MEDIUM        FLAT                                                            BRONZE        DAISY                                                ______________________________________                                                                 DIAMETER                                                        BRANCHING     ACROSS FACE OF                                       CULTIVAR   PATTERN       CAPITULUM                                            ______________________________________                                        TAN        SEMI-         5 to 6.25 cm.                                                   SPREADING                                                          CIRBRONZE  SEMI-         5.5 to 7.5 cm.                                                  SPREADING                                                          ______________________________________                                                            FLOW-                                                                         ERING                                                               PLANT     RESPONSE   TEMPERATURE                                    CULTIVAR  HEIGHT    PERIOD     TOLERANCE                                      ______________________________________                                        TAN       MEDIUM    8 WEEK     13° C. to 21° C.                           25 to                UNIFORM                                                  35 cm.               18° C. to 32° C.                                                UNIFORM                                        CIRBRONZE MEDIUM    9 WEEK     13° C. to 21° C.                           30 to                UNEVEN                                                   45 cm.               18° C. to 32° C.                                                UNIFORM                                                                       COLOR DULLS                                    ______________________________________                                        COMPARISONS MADE OF PLANTS GROWN AS                                           PINCHED SPRAY POT MUMS IN SALINAS,                                            CALIFORNIA AND LEAMINGTON, ONTARIO, CANADA                                    ______________________________________                                    

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum morifolium,Ramat., plant named Tan, as described and illustrated, and particularlycharacterized as to uniqueness by the combined characteristics of flatcapitulum form; daisy capitulum type; greyed orange ray floret color;diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 5 to 6.25 cm. atmaturity; uniform eight week flowering response; medium plant height;semi-spreading branching pattern; and tolerance of both low winter 13°C. to 21° C. and high summer 18° C. to 32° C. temperatures for budinitiation and flower development.